UCSF Secondary Question 1... How are you guys answering this?

I was just wondering how you guys were planning on answering the first question on UCSF's secondary app:

1. List the educational (not financial) resources available in your home and community prior to entering college. Please explain how you used them.

Should we really 'list' or do the regular essay format? Also, this question seems to be targeted toward people with disadvantaged backgrounds... but how are non-disadvantaged people suppose to answer this without sounding completly boring?

By the way, did anyone get an email/snail mail notification about the secondary? I just happened to check on the status page and realized that I was invited to complete a secondary.

i know that they include state residency in their initial screen when they look at gpa, mcat, background, and activities. word has it that you have a better chance as an out of stater if you apply md/phd, but that is just a rumour that i have heard (though i've heard it more than once). in state applicants have an advantage in the initial screening, but once the interview is landed...i think it becomes an even playing field. good luck to everyone.

i wouldn't start worrying about not getting a secondary yet. it is only august! last year they were giving them out until January. i didn't get mine until late October. they take their time. if i learned anything from last year is that patience is a virtue. it goes a little something like this...wait for secondary..fill it out and send it the next day...wait for an interview..fly out and attend...wait for a decision..hear about other people getting in...wait for a decision..hear some more about people who interviewed after you getting in...start devising theories...wait some more...get their decision..and possibly wait some more. don't freak out yet.

again..they are not always super quick with their screening and evaluations...atleast not for me. last year i submitted my scamcas app on july 1st and it was verified in august. i sent in my uc app in august as well. secondary came around halloween, and the interview invite came around new years. i interviewed on january 30th and i waited 16 weeks to hear back from them!

and yes, they send out between 1400 and 1500 secondaries. they screen for gpa, mcat, background, personal statement, ECs and activities. then they invite around 500 for interviews (based on the above mentioned criteria in addition to the letters of rec, maturity, etc). the interviews are closed-file and after the interviews the interviewers write up reports and your interviews are given a numerical score. the interview evaluations are then thrown into the mix and your whole application is looked at again whereupon a final decision is ultimately made. expect to wait atleast 8 weeks for a final decision from the day you interview (though some hear with less time gone by then that, while others wait exceptionally long amounts of time). they give outright acceptances to around 190, high priorities to around 100, and reject the rest. about 30 or so get off the high priority list. all in all, if you get an interview..you have about a little less than a 50% shot at an acceptance.

ok so just to make sure you just have to sign your name a few times, check off some boxes, put in your address, and you're basically done if you're only applying to the regular program right? no essays or anything?

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